It can be a challenge to manage multiple Google My Business (GMB) listings for your clients. Having a thorough and manageable GMB strategy can ensure that your client’s business listings appear prominently in search engine results and gain more visibility. GMB offers a range of powerful and reliable tools that can be used to create and manage optimized listings for your client’s business. That’s why in this blog post, we will discuss the best practices for managing multiple Google My Business (GMB) listings for your clients.
What are Google My Business (GMB) Listings?
Google My Business (GMB) is a free tool offered by Google to help businesses manage their online presence across the search engine giant’s platforms, including Google Search and Google Maps. GMB Listings are business profiles that appear when users search for local businesses or services on Google Maps or Google Search. The listings display a wide range of information about the business, including its name, address, phone number, website, hours of operation, reviews, and photos.
Creating a Google My Business Listing is an essential step for businesses that want to attract local customers. It is particularly useful for small businesses that do not have a website or an online presence.
By creating a GMB listing, businesses can increase their visibility on Google and attract more local customers. Moreover, GMB listings allow businesses to update their information in real-time, such as hours of operation, special offers, and events, ensuring that customers have access to the latest information.
In addition to providing basic business information, GMB listings also allow customers to leave reviews and ratings of their experiences. These reviews can significantly impact a business’s reputation and search engine ranking.
Positive reviews can boost a business’s credibility and attract more customers, while negative reviews can harm its reputation and drive away potential customers.
Thus, businesses should actively monitor and respond to customer reviews on their GMB listings.
How Do GMB Listings Impact Local SEO?
Google My Business (GMB) listings have a significant impact on local SEO (Search Engine Optimization) as they directly affect how businesses appear in Google search results. When a user searches for a local business or service, Google often displays a set of local results in a prominent position on the search engine results page (SERP), commonly referred to as the “local pack.” These results typically feature a map and a list of three nearby businesses related to the user’s query.
Local pack listings are highly sought-after spots for businesses looking to attract more local customers, and having a well-optimized GMB listing can help businesses rank higher in local search results. Google’s algorithm takes into account various factors when deciding which businesses to display in the local pack, such as the relevance, distance, and prominence of the business.
By optimizing their GMB listings, businesses can increase their relevance to the user’s query, which can help them appear higher in local search results.
For example, including relevant keywords in the business name, description, and category can signal to Google that the business is relevant to certain search queries.
Providing accurate and detailed information about the business, such as hours of operation, services offered, and photos can help Google better understand the business and match it with relevant search queries.
Customer reviews and ratings on GMB listings also impact local SEO. Google considers the quantity and quality of reviews when determining a business’s prominence, as businesses with more positive reviews are seen as more trustworthy and reputable. That’s why actively managing and responding to customer reviews can help businesses improve their local SEO and attract more local customers.
Google My Business Listings are a critical tool for businesses looking to improve their local SEO and attract more local customers. By optimizing their listings, businesses can increase their relevance and prominence in local search results and ultimately drive more traffic and sales.
Read: 20 Best Ways to Boost Your Google My Business Listing
Best Practices for Managing Multiple GMB Listings
To effectively manage multiple GMB listings, businesses should follow several best practices, including the following:
Organizing and Documenting Client Information
One of the essential steps in managing multiple GMB listings is organizing and documenting client information. This includes keeping track of client login credentials, business information, and any relevant details related to their GMB listings, such as operating hours and service areas. Storing this information in a centralized location can help businesses access and manage their GMB listings more efficiently.
Creating a GMB Management Schedule
Establishing a GMB management schedule is crucial to ensuring that all listings are up-to-date and accurate. This schedule should include regular tasks such as updating business information, responding to customer reviews, and monitoring listing performance. By creating a consistent schedule, businesses can ensure that they are maintaining their GMB listings effectively and efficiently.
Ensuring Accurate and Up-to-Date Information Across All Listings
Consistency is key when managing multiple GMB listings. Businesses should ensure that all listings have accurate and up-to-date information, including business name, address, phone number, and hours of operation. Any changes to this information should be reflected across all listings promptly.
Responding to Customer Reviews
Responding to customer reviews is an essential aspect of managing GMB listings. Businesses should monitor their listings for new reviews and respond promptly and professionally to both positive and negative reviews. Responding to reviews can help businesses build trust with their customers and improve their overall online reputation.
Monitoring and Tracking GMB Performance
Finally, monitoring and tracking GMB performance is crucial to ensuring that listings are performing well and driving traffic and sales to the business. Businesses should regularly check metrics such as search impressions, clicks, and customer actions to understand how their GMB listings are performing and make any necessary adjustments.
Read: Google My Business Optimization Checklist to Audit Your Business Listing
Tools for Managing Multiple GMB Listings
Managing multiple Google My Business (GMB) listings can be time-consuming, especially for businesses with several locations or managing multiple clients. Fortunately, there are several tools available to help businesses manage their GMB listings more efficiently and effectively.
GMB Dashboard
The GMB dashboard is a free tool provided by Google that allows businesses to manage their GMB listings directly. The dashboard provides a range of features, including the ability to add and update business information, respond to customer reviews, and track listing performance. Businesses can also use the dashboard to manage multiple locations and access insights into how their listings are performing.
Third-Party GMB Management Tools
In addition to the GMB dashboard, several third-party tools are available to help businesses manage their GMB listings more efficiently. These tools offer additional features and functionality beyond what is available through the GMB dashboard, such as bulk management of multiple listings and integration with other marketing channels.
Some popular third-party GMB management tools include:
Leadinary
Leadinary is the all-in-one lead generation platform for service providers targeting local businesses. It helps users scrape Google Maps for local business details such as phone numbers, emails, addresses, and websites by simply typing in a keyword and location within Leadinary. It also has an outreach engine to create email campaigns that drive more sales.
BrightLocal
BrightLocal offers a range of tools to help businesses manage their local search presence, including a GMB management tool. The tool allows businesses to manage multiple listings, track reviews, and monitor listing performance, among other features.
Yext
Yext is a comprehensive local marketing platform that includes a GMB management tool. The tool allows businesses to update their GMB listings, monitor reviews, and track listing performance, as well as manage their presence on other local directories and search engines.
Synup
Synup is a local SEO platform that includes a GMB management tool. The tool allows businesses to manage multiple listings, monitor reviews, and track listing performance, as well as analyze and optimize their overall local search presence.
The Challenges of Managing Multiple GMB Listings
Managing multiple Google My Business (GMB) listings can present various challenges for businesses, including the following:
Duplicate Listings
One of the most common challenges when managing multiple GMB listings is dealing with duplicate listings. Duplicate listings can arise due to various reasons, such as incorrect business information or user-generated content.
Duplicate listings can harm a business’s online presence by confusing potential customers, leading to inaccurate data and a drop in rankings. T
o address this issue, businesses should regularly audit their GMB listings and remove any duplicates using the GMB dashboard or a third-party tool. Businesses should ensure that their GMB listings have accurate and consistent information to prevent duplicate listings from arising.
Verification Issues
Another common challenge in managing multiple GMB listings is verification issues. Verifying a GMB listing is essential to ensure that businesses have control over their listing and can access all of its features.
However, verification can be a complex process, especially when managing multiple listings. Some common verification issues include delays in verification, incorrect or outdated information, and account suspension.
To overcome these issues, businesses should ensure that all GMB listing information is up-to-date and accurate. Businesses can use third-party tools to streamline the verification process and improve the chances of successful verification.
Handling Multiple Locations
For businesses with multiple locations, managing GMB listings can be a challenging task. Each location may have unique information, such as operating hours and services offered, that needs to be accurately reflected in the GMB listing.
To overcome this challenge, businesses should consider using a GMB management tool that allows for bulk management of multiple listings.
businesses should create a management schedule that includes regular updates and monitoring of each location’s GMB listing. Consistent and accurate management of GMB listings can help ensure that each location is optimized for local search and driving traffic and sales to the business.
Managing multiple GMB listings can present several challenges as listed above. However, by regularly auditing listings, ensuring accurate and consistent information, using third-party tools, and creating a management schedule, businesses can overcome these challenges and effectively manage their GMB listings.
Wrapping Up
Managing multiple GMB listings for your clients can be a daunting task. However, with the right strategy, processes, and tools in place, it can be done more efficiently and effectively. By following the tips outlined in this article, you can ensure that your clients’ GMB listings are well-managed, up-to-date, and optimized for success. With the right approach, you can provide value to your clients and help them achieve better results.
